The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-26
CALEDONIA'S SINGING son,
4 Fitting Celebration of the Birthday
Anniversary of Burns, the Bard.
Addresses by Revs. Haines ard McNutt on
Scotland and Her Poet-An Appropriate
Programme of Songs and Recitations.

The piping strains of ..The Campbells are
Coming" "Wha1l be King but Charlie" and
scots VIVA Hae." greeted the audience which
entered Tomlinson Hall last evening and the
tall figure OF j. d. Donelson, an old member of
the Seventy-elghth Highianders, who played the
the stirring airs, arrested the eyes of all as they
entered the doors. The occasion was the cell
ebration of the one hundred and twenty eighth
birthday of the bard of the land of the thistle
and heather, Robert Burns. The When Band
followed Mr. Donelson. and rendered number
OF Scottish patriotic and sentimental airs in a
manner that was highly appauded
Mr.. NJ. H. Rice, the president, introduced
Rev. NJ. L. Haines, announcing that he would
address them on Burns" Mr.. Haines apollo
eized for his inability to address them on the
topic mentioned by Mr. Rice, but said that in
place he would speak upon the Scotch people.
He had high opinion Of Scotchmen and
thought they had good reason to have high
opinion of themselves. Il admire Them he
said, because of their innate quality which
Macaulay so forcibly pointed out, describing
them at the beginning of the seventeenth CEN
tury in this way: NO Englishman had
any motive for emigrating to the north to con-
tend with the shrewdest and most pertinacous
of all races Yes. this is true the sterile soil
and sharp winds have sharpened their wits
admire them, Also because of their intelligence
Three centuries ago, before the Pilgrim
fathers landed at Plymouth Rock, John
Knox declared that there should be school in
each parish In Scotland, high school in every
| borough, and university in every great city.
! And before Knox died this accomplished.
| In religion, admire them because they are not
satisfied with sentiment; theirs is no mush and
milk pi st They know what they believe, and
4 w her Mt nfr ~ hair hn-
oogy. 1 also like the Scotch for their
| firmness. Our greatest general, Grant was of
Scotch descent. and it was his inherent firmness
| which made him say pr fight il out if it takes
| all summer I have my doubts if the majority
of the members of the Indiana House of Repre-
sentatives had any Scotch blood in them, or
they would never have submitted to
the compromise. There is no such
larry. You've all heard the story of the man
who owed Smith S.. He could not Sleep it
preyed so upon his mind. But friend said, pay
| the debt, and then let Smith do the walking.
The majority in the House would have said, if
they had had any of the Scotch firmness, Colonel
| Robertson take the chair. and Mr.. Smith go
take walk. But I'm glad they didn't like to
| see things done according to law and order
When Robert Burns crossed the Tweed and
stood upon the English bank, he lifted up his
hands and prayed God to bless his native land
| You, tonight. who have crossed the wide ocean,
| raise your hands and bless your native land, and
pray that God will make you worthy of such an
ancestry
After Mr. Haiuess address, which received
hearty and prolonged applause, Prof. j. A.
Adams. formerly of the Cooper Institute,
| New York., but now of Cincinnati, sang
"Rantin Rovin' Robin" Then Mr.. Fred
Wies and Mr.. Sam. L. Morrison sang
What are the wild waves sayingl' They
in that costume peculiar to country lad and
fassie, who care only for duck linen. calico and
sun bonnet. This elected vociferous applause.
In quick succession followed Mrs S. L. Morri-
son, who sang "Caller Herrin," in ner usual
charming manner; Mr.. Hugh Campbell, who re-
cited Beware of Vldders;' Burgess Brown, who
recited 1.-THE Country Merchant Miss Downe
sang Logic O. Buchan:" Mr. S. L. Morrison,
Adams, who sang a medley. after which Miss
Dolie Oberly danced the Highland fling IN the
kilt costume of that country, and received a
wel-deserved encore.
A brief address by Rev. G. L. McNutt fol-
lowed. He said that Burns, the plow boy. was
the sweetest singer of all Scotland's bards,
whose songs were fraught with love, life and
home Others had painted Scottish peasant life
from the cozy fires of the palace but Burns q
But the sorrows of Burns color even his songs OF
mirth not Extensively as did Byrons, only
with sweet tenderness.
After Mr.. McNutts address, Prof. Adams
sang IA Warrior Bold Mrs. S. l.. Morrison
''llka Blade O. Grass" Miss Downie, 'Leezie
Lindsay Prof. Adams recited number o.
comic pieces; Mr. Hugh Campbell recited viii
Visscher's parody on Barbara Frietche' Mr.
j. B. Cameron rendered cornet solo, Tn,
: audience then rose and joined in the chorus
.'Auld Lang Syne," after which the Calsdoniar
quoiters abandoned themselves to the revels Of
the .erpschorean muse. aided by Louis Vogt.
orchestra